Advisory Board

Mason Engineering is fortunate to have the guidance and knowledge of a distinguished group of executives working on the Volgenau School of Engineering Advisory Board.

The board's goal is to create synergy between the school and the professional community by addressing workforce development demands, industry expectations, and employment trends. The board meets four times a year, and has working subcommittees that take on specific tasks.

Members

Michael Papay is vice president and chief information security officer for Northrop Grumman, working on the company’s internal information security program. In his role, he is also responsible for strategy and vision for the company’s global computer and network information security systems; defining companywide policies for information security; and enhancing the security of Northrop Grumman’s products, services and infrastructures. Papay has 29 years of experience with the company developing engineering solutions for the Department of Defense and intelligence community, including intercontinental ballistic missiles; missile defense systems; command and control systems; networking solutions; satellite and ground systems; airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms; modeling and simulation programs; military training tools; and cybersecurity solutions. He served on the 2012 Homeland Security Advisory Council’s Task Force on Cyber Skills. He has a bachelor’s degree and a doctorate in aerospace engineering from Virginia Tech.

Lisa Donnan (Vice Chair)

Managing Director
Options3Ventures

Lisa Donnan is Managing Director of Options3Ventures.

Donnan has also served as a vice president for TASC, in Chantilly, Virginia.

She is an executive with 20 years of global experience in redefining sales and market strategies, overhauling operations, and recruiting top talent.

She has a bachelor's degree in business from Ramapo College of New Jersey and an executive non-degree in finance and financial management services from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Barry M. Barlow

Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer
Perspecta

Barry Barlow is the senior vice president and chief technology officer at Vencore, Inc. Barlowe directs all technology and solution strategies within the company to optimize operational efficiencies in support of the corporate business plan. He leads customer outreach initiatives relative to technology and the planning and execution for all of Vencore’s Independent Research and Development (IRAD) projects.

Barlowe has more than 35 years of government, commercial, and academic experience in the defense and space industry. In addition to teaching Computer Science for seven years, During his federal career, Barlowe was honored with multiple awards, including the Presidential Rank Award as a Distinguished Senior Executive, Presidential Rank Award as a Meritorious Senior Executive, Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award, National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, and NGA Medallion for Excellence, as well as numerous Intelligence Community, Department of Defense and NGA Meritorious Unit Citations. In Dec. 2012, a flag was flown in his honor over the International Security Assistance Force’s headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, commemorating his distinguished service in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Buddy Beck

President
The Beck Foundation

B.G. "Buddy" Beck is an industrial entrepreneur and business executive, scholar, public servant, inventor, and technologist. He had several years of distinguished and decorated military and public service, and served on the National Security Council staff in the White House during both the Ford and Carter Administrations. Other career highlights include founding companies such as Atlantic Systems Research & Engineering and Trans Digital Technologies. Currently, he sits on the boards of several public and private companies and serves on a number of national security boards, as well as various non-profit organizations. He and his wife, Charlotte, founded the Beck Foundation, which has established research programs at a number of universities. The program for wounded veterans – which has received national awards – improves opportunities for all those who have given so much for America. Beck received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Arkansas State University, a master’s degree from the University of Southern California, and he did a fellowship in post-graduate studies at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C.

Brian Blake

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Drexel University

Brian Blake, who received his PhD in information and software engineering from Mason in 2000, is provost and executive vice president for academic affairs for Drexel University. He has held positions at the University of Miami, University of Notre Dame, Georgetown University, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and The Mitre Corporation. Blake's research interests include investigating software engineering approaches for the integration of Web-based systems. His scholarly activities have been funded by more than $10 million in sponsored research awards from various government and commercial organizations. He has authored or co-authored more than 160 journal articles, books/book chapters, and conference/workshop papers.

Blake earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and his master's degree in electrical engineering from Mercer University.

Dave DiEugenio is a distinguished information technology leader and manager with extensive federal experience. He has more than 24 years of leadership and management experience serving as a Marine officer, as well as more than 20 years of information system integration, information technology, and project management experience. He is a cybersecurity expert who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in strategic planning and operations analysis.

DiEugenio was appointed chief information officer (CIO/G-6) of the Marine Corps Recruiting Command in September 2016. He leads, guides, and directs a staff overseeing the cyber operations planning, delivery, maintenance and defense of mission critical networks and information systems.

DiEugenio received a BS in Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and a MS in Information Technology Management from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. His certifications include Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM).

Deborah Dunie

Independent Board Director, Former Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
CACI International

Deborah Dunie serves on the board of directors for Alliant Energy, SAIC, and works with technology startups. Previously, she served as executive vice president and chief technology officer for CACI. She has worked in both industry and government, serving in the office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, with oversight of a multi-billion dollar portfolio. She held positions at Oracle, Raytheon, and Martin Marietta dudring her 30-year career. She has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Tufts University, and a master's degree in electrical engineering from the Stevens Institute of Technology.

Martin Gross serves as the director of Network Security Deployment within the Department of Homeland Security. He is responsible for leading the life-cycle acquisition and engineering of cybersecurity technologies to counter on-going, real world national cyber threats and applying effective risk mitigation strategies to detect and deter these threats.

He has more than 30 years of progressive technical and management experience across the entire spectrum of the information technology lifecycle. This includes a broad range of assignments at the staff and line operation levels performing requirements analysis, technology development, systems engineering, cyber security implementation, acquisition, and operations functions.

Jack Harrington

CEO Research Innovations, Inc.

Jack Harrington, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer science from George Mason University, is a serial entrepreneur with 30 years of experience delivering leading edge technology in the aerospace and defense industry. He is currently the CEO of Research Innovations, Inc. (RII), headquartered in Alexandria Virginia, focused on providing C4I, Big Data Analytics, AI and Machine Learning, and Cyber Technology & Solutions to the national security community. Prior to joining RII, Harrington was Vice President of Cybersecurity and Special Missions (CSM), a business of Raytheon Company’s Intelligence, Information and Services (IIS), providing full scale cyber solutions across global markets. Prior to his IIS role, Harrington served as CEO of Thales Raytheon Systems, a transatlantic defense joint venture with customers in 60 countries around the world and headquartered in Massy, France. Starting in 1994, Harrington was the founder and CEO of Virtual Technology Corporation (VTC) focused in the C4I and distributed modeling & simulation markets until the company was acquired by Raytheon in 2006.
Harrington is an alumnus of the Young Entrepreneurs’ Organization, Washington, D.C., chapter, a graduate of MIT’s distinguished Birthing of Giants entrepreneurial program, and a graduate of Raytheon’s Executive Leadership Summit.

Deepak Hathiramani

Non-executive Chairman of the Board of Directors
Vistronix

Deepak Hathiramani is non-executive chairman of the Vistronix board of directors.

The founder and former CEO of Vistronix has more than 25 years of management and technical experience with privately funded and venture-funded high-tech start-ups.

He is a member of the senior advisory board of the Northern Virginia Technology Council and a member of the Executive Committee of the Professional Services Council.

He has a BS in mathematics and physics from St. Xavier’s College and a BA in computer sciences from The University of Texas at Austin.

Paul Leslie

Chief Executive Officer
Dovel Technologies

Paul Leslie, CEO for Dovel Technologies, has experience successfully building companies for substantial market value and growth. He is responsible for Dovel’s growth strategy and oversees daily operations. He has experience and expertise in operational excellence, business development, strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, and extensive public-sector operations. He served as President of Apptis, a Chantilly, Virginia-based technology services company, and he co-founded and served as President and CEO of Apogen Technologies, a Federal IT services and technology company with a focus on homeland security and defense. Leslie is the Board Chairman of the Community Foundation of Northern Virginia, is on the Senior Advisory Board of the Northern Virginia Technology Council, and serves as an Advisor to the Children’s Science Center, which focuses on STEM initiatives. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from University of Massachusetts, Boston State College.

Wayne Lucernoni

Former President, Mission Sustainment
Harris Corporation

Wayne Lucernoni is president of Mission Sustainment for Harris Corporation’s Critical Networks segment. Previously, he was president of Harris IT Services, which designed, deployed, operated, and maintained secure communications systems and information networks. He is a member of the Homeland Security and Defense Business Council and the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association. He serves on the board of directors of the Northern Virginia Technology Council and the Professional Services Council and is a member of the Executive Advisory Council for the American Council for Technology-Industry Advisory Council. He recently joined the Board of Advisors for the Intelligence and National Security Alliance,

Prior to joining Harris in 1990, Lucernoni worked as an accountant in contracting firms that were service and manufacturing focused, serving government and commercial markets.

He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from James Madison University’s School of Accounting, and Certified Public Accountant certification in Maryland and Virginia, and has completed The Executive Program at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.

General David M. Maddox

U.S. Army (Ret.)

David M. Maddox is a retired United States Army four-star general who served as Commander in Chief, United States Army Europe/Commander, Central Army Group from 1992 to 1993; Commander in Chief, U.S. Army Europe from 1993 to 1994.

After retiring from the army, Maddox has worked as an independent consultant to industry and the government. He is a graduate of Virginia Military Institute, and he received his MS in Applied Science (Operations Research) from Southern Illinois University. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a Senior Fellow with the Army Science Board, and Chairs the National Academies’ Board on Army Science and Technology.

Brad Medairy

Senior Vice President
Booz Allen Hamilton

Brad Medairy is a McLean, VA-based Senior Vice President and leader in Booz Allen Hamilton's Predictive Intelligence initiative focused on delivering solutions that combine systems development and integration, big data analytics, data sciences, and specialized tradecraft to help clients anticipate, prevent, detect and respond to global threats and opportunities with real-time actionable insight about their environments.

He has a proven track record in the application of emerging technologies (e.g. Hadoop, Cloud Computing) and techniques (e.g. Agile Development, Advanced Analytics, Enterprise Architecture) to design, develop, and deliver large-scale enterprise systems that address business and missions needs across Federal and Commercial clients.

He has MS in information systems and technology from Johns Hopkins University and a BS in information systems from University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Vernon Mosley

Chief Executive Officer
Mid-Atlantic Cyber Security

Vern Mosley, CEO for Mid-Atlantic Cyber Security and a Principal with Option3Ventures, has over 30 years of engineering experience in the design, testing, and operation of national security and public safety communications networks. An expert in the cybersecurity field, he recently retired from the FCC where he was responsible for strategic policy and technical advice in support of Public Safety and Homeland Security communications services. He previously held senior engineering positions with the General Services Administration, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Defense.

Mosley is a graduate of the University of Virginia’s School of Engineering and Applied Science and earned a master's degree in engineering management from the George Washington University.

As director of IDA’s information technology and systems division, Margaret Myers leads researchers who address cybersecurity and other cyberspace challenges of national and global importance, drawing from their broad understanding of related operations and business, technology and systems, and policy and law. Myers has served as principal director for the Department of Defense Deputy Chief Information Officer and as director of information technology acquisition and investment for the office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C3I).

She earned a doctorate in Information Technology from George Mason University; a master of science in Operations Research from American University in Washington, D.C.; and a bachelor of arts magna cum laude in mathematics from Colorado College.

Andrea Norris

Director, Center for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
National Institutes of Health.

Andrea Norris serves as the Director, Center for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer (CIO) at the National Institutes of Health. She provides oversight of NIH’s $1 billion IT portfolio that supports scientific research and discovery. She is responsible for managing a broad range of NIH-wide information and information technology services, including a new state-of-the-market high-speed research network infrastructure, a high-performance scientific computing system ranked at #66 in the world in 2017 by TOP500, cloud-based collaboration and communication platforms and tools, bioinformatics research programs, data center services, business solutions and applications, and 24 x7 operations of NIH’s distributed IT environment.

She has an MBA with a major in Information Systems Management from the George Washington University and a BA in Economics from the College of William and Mary.

Todd Pantezzi

Senior Vice President
ICF International

Todd Pantezzi is a Senior Vice President with ICF International, responsible for ICF’s relationships and growth across the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services (HHS) since 2009. He represents ICF’s consulting practices in biomedical information services, data management and analytics, technology and management consulting, digital strategy, communications, survey research, and program evaluation. Since joining ICF the firm has grown to be one of the most prolific prime contractors across HHS.

An expert on the federal government’s civilian health programs, his first assignment was to create and build a health informatics practice for a small systems integrator. As an independent consultant he created and implemented market entry strategies for most of the large federal systems integrators seeking to enter the civilian health sector. He went on to lead HHS business development for SRA, Pearson (now GDIT), UnitedHealth Group, and CSC. As chair of “An Evening for Hope” to benefit The Children’s Inn at NIH, he led the committee that raised a record $900,000 donation in 2016, and is the chair of the 2017 gala.

Pantezzi is a regular committee chair, moderator, speaker, and panelist at industry and government events. He is a graduate of Skidmore College.

Michael Post

President, CEOShirley Contracting

Michael Post has more than 35 years of construction experience. While pursuing his degree at George Mason University, he started his career with Shirley Contracting in 1981 as a project manager. He was involved with a number of projects, including the Mills Branch Drainage Culvert, Pickett Road Widening, Phase II Ramp and Taxiway, and a three-mile rehabilitation project on the George Washington Parkway.

In 1995, Post was promoted to president and CEO where he assumed responsibility for the overall leadership and management of Shirley Contracting. Currently, his responsibilities include overseeing the corporate safety program, financial management and planning, corporate operations, business planning, estimating, and overall business development of the organization. He has grown Shirley Contracting Company into one of the leading providers of transportation construction services in the mid-Atlantic region.

He attended the Darden Graduate School at the University of Virginia, the Management Productivity for Executives and Young Managers Institute at The Fails Management Institute, and Transportation Construction Management at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Post also serves on the board for Mason’s Civil Engineering Institute.

Hadi Rezazad

Co-founder and CEO of Orchid Technologies & Management

Hadi Rezazad is the co-founder and CEO of Orchid Technologies & Management, an information technology solutions provider company established in 1992 in Northern Virginia. He has more than 35 years of experience in IT, with more than 25 years leading Orchid. Rezazad earned his PhD in Information Technology in 2009 and an Engineer Degree in IT in 2003, both from George Mason University Volgenau School of Engineering. In addition, he earned a master's degree in computer science and a bachelor's degree in three majors- computer science, statistics, and applied mathematics - from American University. He has received such industry certifications as Project Management Professional and Certified Data Professional. Rezazad is a member of the GMU Volgenau School of Engineering Advisory Board, and the Chairman of the Alumni Development Board. In addition, he teaches as an adjunct professor in the Volgenau School of Engineering at George Mason University.

Phillip J. Tarnoff

Chairman of the Board
Traffax

Phillip J. Tarnoff is chairman of the board of Traffax, which produces equipment that measures travel times and origin-destinations of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The Traffax equipment is based on the use of Bluetooth technology. Tarnoff’s current goal is to help departments of transportation move away from their current construction and public works orientation, and increase their focus on efficient operation of the nation's roadway system. His consulting and writing activities are aimed at this goal. He recently completed a book titled The Road Ahead. He has received numerous awards, including in 2002, the prestigious Theodore M. Matson award for his contributions to the transportation industry.

Tarnoff received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and Master of Science from New York University.

D. Renee Tarun

Deputy Chief
National Security Agency’s Cyber Task Force

Immediately prior to this position, Renee Tarun served as the Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer of the Information Assurance Directorate at the National Security Agency. Her focus areas include strategy, planning, integration, and relationship management, in cybersecurity and related disciplines. She has served as a Cyber Strategist in a joint Defense Department-Homeland Security Department organization for orchestrating coordinated joint efforts in operational planning, policy and strategic development, and identification of gaps and solutions for cyber issues. She also served as the Protect Data and Networks and Operational Resiliency Portfolio Lead for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Information and Identity Assurance. Throughout her career she has worked as a computer scientist, information technologist, and a variety of policy, program management, and resource jobs.

Sterling Thomas is a Fellow and Director of the Advanced Analytics and Agile IT (AIT) Division at Noblis, a nonprofit research corporation with headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia. There, he’s had the opportunity to work, and lead, in a field with rapid advances and continuous innovations. Under his direction, Noblis’ AIT division offers advanced analytics research and development for clients in state, federal and private sectors for projects ranging from developing human diagnostics to developing financial algorithms for equities markets. His division also manages a portfolio of diverse projects including the 2014 Ebola outbreak, infectious disease tracking and research, Web research focused on pursuing human traffickers, and research in cybersecurity.

Sterling has a PhD in Bioinformatics from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Jeffery Wilcox

Vice President for Digital TransformationLockheed Martin

Jeffrey (Jeff) Wilcox oversees the digital transformation office and is responsible for the design, development, and implementation of operations strategy for Lockheed Martin. This office is chartered with leveraging emerging digital technologies to transform systems design, production, and sustainment and ensuring the workforce and systems are in place to enable successful transformation.

Wilcox earned his BS in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University and his MS in Electrical Engineering from Drexel University. He holds an honorary doctorate of Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology.

He is chairman of the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership National Advisory Board and serves on the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Board as well as on multiple industry and university advisory boards.